Communications

The most recent expense reports, going back for the past 24 months, for any and all executive staff and commissioners of the California Gambling Control Commission.

I ask that you please provide the records in their original electronic format. I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your commitment to an open and transparent government process. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

I wanted to let you know that the Public Records Act Department has processed your request and you should have or will receive the information shortly.

I was just following up to see if there would be any media calls related to this request and if any additional response was needed. There was no phone number listed for Muckrock, so I was unable to follow-up with a phone call.

Were the other entities you contacted as responsive? We are limited by law by what we can provide - but take our responsibilities seriously.

This responds to your request by email on February 17, 2014 for expense reports for executive staff and commissioners for the past 24 months. You caption your email as a “Freedom of Information Request,” which we take to mean a request for records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The FOIA applies to federal agencies, not to California agencies. However, we will construe your request as a request under the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 et seq.) and respond accordingly.

With exception of records specifically made subject to the California Public Records Act (CPRA) by the Gambling Control Act, records of the Gambling Control Commission are specifically made exempt from disclosure under the CPRA (see Business and Professions Code section 19821). Notwithstanding those exemptions, and although disclosure of the requested documents is not mandated by either the CPRA or the Gambling Control Act, the Commission, in the interest of transparency, elects to exercise its discretion to release these documents in this instance in response to your request.

In response to your request I am providing to you in the attached pdf files copies of expense reports for executive staff and commissioners for the time period specified in your request. The commissioners may have traveled to and attended gaming seminars and conventions on their own time. In these instances, the Commission would not have records of expense reports because their expenses were not reimbursed by the state. If you have any questions regarding this response, please do not hesitate to contact me at (916) 263-8111.Regards,

Thank you, Ms. Mares and Ms. Mathauser. I appreciate your quick response and decision to provide the documents in the interest of transparency.

I can't say whether or not the documents will result in any phone calls from the media. They are now publicly available online, so other journalists might call.

If I decide to do any reporting or publish anything related to these records, I will certainly call you soonest to ensure I understand the documents and their context, etc. Also, if you'd like to reach me, please feel free to call my cell at 202-615-3551.